As part of an ongoing effort to make the 2008 Democratic National Convention themost environmentally-sustainable Democratic Convention in history, House Speaker andPermanent Convention Chair Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Convention organizers today announcedthe "Green Delegate Challenge," offering special rewards for the delegation or delegations thatdemonstrate the highest level of commitment to offsetting their carbon footprint from attendingthe Convention, to be held August 25-28, 2008. Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Denver MayorJohn Hickenlooper, Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Democratic National ConventionCommittee (DNCC) CEO Leah D.

By Dina Cappiello, CQ Staff

When it comes to making the U.S. energy independent, lawmakers seem to have oil — and only oil — on the brain.

Both the House and Senate versions of the energy bill, which is now the subject of intensifying negotiations, are aimed at reducing imports, either by boosting fuel economy or promoting alternative fuels. When Speaker Nancy Pelosi , a California Democrat, assembled the House Select Committee for Energy Independence and Global Warming this year, she charged it with “restoring our freedom from overreliance on foreign oil.”

But as congressional leaders seek to reduce costly oil imports, they may inadvertently spark increased dependence on foreign supplies of other fuels.

By Dina Cappiello, CQ Staff

Congressional negotiators completed a deal late Nov. 30 that will put a comprehensive energy bill on the fast track this week.

However, the bill could face trouble in the Senate, where a key Republican denounced a major element of the deal.

The legislation, which was the subject of intense negotiations over the Thanksgiving recess, would raise fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks and add billions of gallons of ethanol and other alternative fuels to U.S. gasoline tanks.

“A compromise has been reached on automobile fuel efficiency standards, a key provision of the energy legislation being considered by Congress.... I believe the agreement reached today prescribes standards that are both aggressive and attainable,” House Energy and Commerce Chairman John D. Dingell , D-Mich., said in a statement. Dingell and Speaker Nancy Pelosi had been working out final details of the proposal as the week drew to a close.

Fact Sheet on H.R. 4156, Orderly and Responsible Iraq Redeployment Appropriations Act

As The War Continues in its Fifth Year, Congress Has a Critical Choice:

• Endorse the President’s 10-Year War With No End in Sight, or
• Hold the President Accountable, Requiring Redeployment of Our Troops to Start within 30 Days of Enactment with a Goal for Completion in One Year

Congress Won’t Provide A Blank Check; Instead Is Holding the President Accountable

Today, the House has a critical choice to make:

Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi will present a public lecture as part of Meredith’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Presidential Lecture Series.

Speaker Pelosi will discuss the accomplishments and current work of the New Direction Congress. After the event Speaker Pelosi will take questions from the audience.

Speaker Pelosi will hold a press conference with North Carolina Congressmen Brad Miller and David Price following the question and answer session.

“I want to thank Meredith College for their hospitality in hosting today’s event. It’s a pleasure to welcome Speaker Pelosi to my home district to highlight the accomplishments and future goals of the Democratic Majority,” said Congressman Miller.

President Bush asked Congress for $46 billion more to bankroll wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and said he wants the money approved by Christmas. The fighting in Iraq, in its fifth year, already has cost more than $455 billion.

Democrats who gained control of Congress with an antiwar message said Bush should not expect lawmakers to rubber-stamp the request.

"The colossal cost of this war grows every day — in lives lost, dollars spent, and to our reputation around the world," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. "The American people long ago rejected the president's planned 10-year occupation of Iraq and want the administration to provide a concrete plan to bring our troops home.

"The choice is between a Democratic plan for responsible redeployment of our troops and the president's plan to spend another trillion dollars for a 10-year war in Iraq. We must end this war."

Announcing his latest request, Bush alluded to the nation's disenchantment with the war, which has claimed the lives of more than 3,830 members of the U.S. military and more than 73,000 Iraqi civilians.

By Jonathan E. Kaplan and Mike Soraghan, The Hill
October 17, 2007

Emboldened by new polling data, Democrats will press on in criticizing Republicans who support President Bush’s veto of a bill to expand a children’s health insurance program.

Some centrist Republicans could pay a political price for voting on Thursday to sustain Bush’s veto of a five-year, $35 billion expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), according to new polling conducted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and obtained by The Hill.

One poll found that 42 percent of voters are “very convinced” to vote against their Midwestern centrist Republican congressman, Rep. Kenny Hulshof (Mo.) when told that he “voted to keep 10 million kids from getting health insurance, including 100,000 from his own state” while keeping his “government health insurance.”

Nineteen percent found the argument “somewhat convincing.”

Another survey of a congressional district in a Southern state found that opposing the SCHIP reauthorization “raised doubts” about the GOP incumbent lawmaker, Rep. Thelma Drake (Va.), for 66 percent of voters.

In late 2003, Kevin Farmer bet a friend that if Nancy Pelosi became minority leader, he would organize his precinct. He lost that bet, and over the next twelve months, Farmer's precinct committee, based in Durham 03, near the 9th Street Business District, produced a 31% jump in turnout over 2000, raised hundreds of dollars, and became a force in the community.

Farmer, a baker by trade, had no experience in politics. “Fortunately I'm a quick learner" he says. He recruited people to get flyers announcing the annual precinct meeting to every Democrat in the precinct. That effort brought 25 people to the meeting, where they performed all the usual business, and then some. “The most important thing" Farmer adds, “is that we agreed to keep meeting."